Team Rajasthan

The Rajasthan began their Indian Premier League journey on a triumphant note, claiming the inaugural IPL title in 2008. Under the leadership of Shane Warne, who also served as the team’s coach, Rajasthan defied expectations to secure their place in history. However, replicating that success proved to be a challenge in subsequent seasons, as the team struggled to reignite the magic of their first campaign. After four seasons, Warne bid farewell to professional cricket in 2011, bringing an end to an era.

In 2012, Rajasthan ushered in a new leadership era with veteran Indian batsman Rahul Dravid at the helm. Along with Dravid's tactical astuteness, the team made several strategic purchases, bringing in the likes of Brad Hogg, Brad Hodge, Dinesh Chandimal, and Sreesanth. Though Sreesanth was ruled out due to injury, the team performed consistently, with standout performances from Ajinkya Rahane. Despite their efforts, Rajasthan narrowly missed out on a playoff berth that season. Nonetheless, their fair play and disciplined conduct on the field earned them the IPL Fair Play Award under Dravid’s leadership. The next few years saw Rajasthan continue to perform admirably, but in 2016, the franchise was banned for two years due to an off-field controversy.

Rajasthan's return to the IPL in 2018 saw them make bold acquisitions in the auction, with star players like Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler joining their ranks. The team made it to the knockout stages but was eliminated by Kolkata in the Eliminator. This marked a fleeting resurgence, but their fortunes soon took a downturn. From 2019 onwards, Rajasthan's performance dipped significantly, with the team finishing at or near the bottom of the points table for three consecutive years.

In 2021, Rajasthan underwent a significant leadership change when Sanju Samson was appointed as captain. While his appointment did not yield immediate success, the franchise chose to persist with him. Over time, Samson's leadership qualities began to flourish, and he gradually grew into the role, displaying increasing maturity and tactical acumen.

As the 2022 mega auction approached, Rajasthan made key decisions to retain their core players - Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and Yashasvi Jaiswal - and added quality talent like Trent Boult, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Under Samson’s leadership, Rajasthan had a remarkable season, making it to the IPL Final for the first time since their title-winning year. However, despite their strong showing, they fell short against the new Gujarat franchise, finishing as runners-up.

In 2023, Rajasthan came close to a playoff spot but narrowly missed out, finishing just outside the top four. The 2024 season saw them return to the knockout stages, finishing third in the league table. However, once again, their lack of experience in high-pressure games proved to be a hindrance, as they were unable to make it past the crucial stages. This disappointment has prompted a significant reshuffle ahead of the 2025 season, although the franchise has maintained a solid core of Indian talent.

For the 2025 IPL season, Sanju Samson will continue to lead Rajasthan, but the most significant development is the return of former captain and coach Rahul Dravid as the head coach. Dravid’s leadership and experience will be invaluable as Rajasthan looks to rebuild and mount another challenge for the title. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel will be expected to step up, especially given that the franchise has lost some of its key bowlers - Trent Boult, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Yuzvendra Chahal - who have been integral to their success in recent seasons.

The team appears slightly light on the bowling front, with a heavy reliance on their overseas players to fill the void. Rajasthan has made strategic signings in the form of Sri Lankan spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, alongside Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who will be expected to take the new ball alongside the experienced Sandeep Sharma. A major positive for the franchise is the return of Jofra Archer, who is fully fit and has played plenty of cricket in the lead-up to the season. His inclusion will add depth to their bowling attack and provide much-needed firepower.